Dear Nicholas Sparks,
Have you ever noticed the irony of your name? Mr. Romantic-Novels, and his last name is Sparks-- he who writes about the sparks of love, the fireworks that explode after that first romantic kiss, the ignition of a burning passion between lovers... What’s always been odd to me and what I never understood was, why are sparks between two people considered to be a good thing? Why burning love or burning passion are phrases meant to compliment the couple or relationship? Dear I-Write-About-True-Love, do you know that fires are destructive? Have you realized what your romantic couples are portraying? What your fame is suggesting? No? Let me help you with that.
Take The Notebook, a beloved movie/book by all (just stroking your ego a bit here, but don’t get used to it). What lesson is your audience supposed to take away from that story-- "Love is difficult, but if a hot guy builds you a house and kisses you in the rain you can die in each other’s arms happy?" Alright, sure, you got lucky with the help of Ryan Gosling to suck us into believing that one, but here’s what I took away from it: "A girl who is engaged to another man can become an infidel as long as she truly loves the man she's sleeping with." So, basically, if you screw someone over, you can still end up happy and avoid all repercussions. Alright, let me stop you before you claim that this is the only time this has happened.
The Choice. Hell, the title itself seems to suggest that a woman gets to choose between two men (although I’ll admit that’s not the actual intent of the title). That’s so empowering to women though, isn’t it? Men falling at her feet so she gets the final say in who she ends up with? No, sir, don’t even try to play that feminist card. First off, that logic is disputed when you portray Gabby refusing Travis's proposal several times, and instead of him backing off, Travis continues to fight back, insisting that she be his. “But it’s true love, and she just can’t admit it to herself”… You’re kidding, right? And again, you’ve got a woman cheating on her significant other with the “true love of her life”. Have you got an issue with women Mr. Make-Your-Heart-Melt? Because you sure have a habit of portraying your women as loose, hot headed, suckers.
Sir, I am willing to argue that what you write has nothing to do with actual romance. You are, perhaps (giving you the benefit of the doubt) unwittingly doing so, but you are subtly ingraining in the minds of young females that infidelity is an act of passion and not a crime against actual love. Also, I’d like to know how your male characters so easily accept that they’re beginning their relationships with women they know to be unfaithful. How would they be able to trust a woman who so freely throws herself at any guy who shows her affection? Or is that your stereotypical view on men? That they’re actually just so horny that they can ignore all the important stuff in a relationship to lock down a hot piece of ass?
Anyway, I’ll cut my letter short in an attempt to save any sense of ego you may have left. I’m not trying to be cruel; I'm just trying to make sure you understand the negative impact you are leaving on romance. Hopefully I’m not the only female that isn’t too dumb to fall for your twisted sense of love.
With the best intentions,
A True Romantic
